First Russian, and now China. Just as news hit us a week ago that the Russian government is demanding access to the source code for Apple software to ensure it isn’t enabling U.S. intelligence agencies to spy on the 145 million country, Bloomberg Wednesday reported that the Chinese government has taken Apple’s iPad tablets and MacBook notebooks off the procurement list.

As a result, no government agency in China is allowed to buy Apple products with public money.

While government purchases are not a major sales driver for Apple, it’s worth remembering that China is home to 1.33 billion people and filing as Apple’s third-biggest market by revenue…

China’s government excluded Apple Inc. iPads and MacBook laptops from the list of products that can be bought with public money because of security concerns, according to government officials familiar with the matter.

As many as ten different iPad and MacBook models were take off the government’s procurement list, including the iPad, iPad Mini, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Curiously enough, the models were on a June version of the list drafted by the National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Finance.

China contributed to 16 percent of Apple’s $37.4 billion in revenue last quarter.

The iPhone maker is the latest in a string of U.S. technology companies, like Microsoft and antivirus makers Symantec Corp. and Kaspersky Lab, that fell victim of the escalating tensions between the U.S. and China over claims of hacking and cyberspying.

The Windows maker was shut out of a government purchase of energy-efficient computers, too, reads the report.

And over in Russia, the country’s Ministry of Communications and Mass Media wants both Apple and German technology giant SAP to open the source code for their software, citing espionage concerns.

In a statement released to media, Apple stated that it “has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services. We have also never allowed access to our servers,” adding that “we never will. It’s something we feel very strongly about.”

From the NSA point of view that is good news since they will get a crappy windows machine. From apple’s perspective they probably care but not as much since most likely apple wasn’t an enterprise powerhouse in china.

Corrupt official have enlighten money to “show” of their American brand laptops and that is why it will be no so much of a concern.

In the meantime, the Chinese government shouldn’t be allowed to sell some of their goods here. Let the trade wars begin!!!

SMH

Your English and logic is a complete fail. This was legit embarrassing to read. US government should enforce an embargo on the Chinese government because the Chinese government declared iPads and Macbooks can’t be bought with public funds? LMAO

GM’s

Please, educate yourself.

Abhinav Chaudhary

I agree with @disqus_saYVPyfQ8d:disqus, also if you are talking about trade war let me remind you that China is the world’s largest industrialized country and China has communist country. So chinese government can stop the production of apple products completely anytime they want since 100% of apple products are manufactured in China.

Don’t exaggerate, the Moto X was assembled in Texas and it was nowhere near $1,000. Was more like $200 (build cost) and $450 – MSRP.

I would pay $100 more if the iPod was assembled in SoCal. It helps the economy I guess. Dollar earn in America stays in America. Dollar that goes to China never comes back.

easy

Dollar earn in America stays in America?I don’t think so. don’t forgot that US gov still have almost 12505 billions dollars need pay to China.

Ricky

no, Chinese goverment cant stop apple from assembling their device at china. cuz if they do that, the world will never trust china to make their product and no one would be brave enough to invest at the country causing the country to have a nad economics and etc

I think is time for Apple to take their manufacturing elsewhere. I heard Mexico or Brazil has excellent manufacturing capabilities, closer to USA and Europe, etc…

Just to avoid this kind of political B.S. escalating into something worse.

Sachin

Brazil has very high corruption rate and there are too many rules and regulations. Just Google price of PS4 there for example.

Leviscus Tempris

I’m glad someone knows this. It’s outrageous. I’ve got a friend who lives there and to buy one and ship it to them would cost even more. It sucks and they want to keep it that way. Just to ship a desk mount that cost ~3$ there costs over 100$. And that’s just greasing palms to get it over the border. (Rant over)

Maxim∑

iOS would be the last operating system I would block…

Alberto Espinal

Do you know how many jobs Apple has created in China? Already then let it be and see how many will be without a job!!

Foellarbear

I know it’s not going to happen, but I would like to see Apple provide all the manufacturing jobs in America. Just like what they are doing with the Mac Pro.

Leviscus Tempris

Haven’t they heard of jailbreaking? That they could just open it up themselves and see how it works? Oh but that’s illegal now isn’t it? They aren’t stupid and neither is Apple. Everyone jailbreaks to check tweaks that change their apps like Pandora. They have a team that sees how these tweaks work then put in measures to keep people from doing it. They just did it in the last update. Anyways unless they are stupid, they’ve already opened the iPhone.